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a wall of espadrilles on a shelf

How To Wear Espadrilles

“Little darling, it’s been a long, long, lonely winter.” – George Harrison, The Beatles

Though the spring equinox occurs in March, to us, April has always felt like the marker of springtime. After a chilly winter in one of the most trying times this country has even been through, we welcome the change of season with open arms.

As we put our spring clothes to the front of the closet, we do the same with our shoes. With that, we thought we’d examine how to wear espadrilles in today’s blog post.

What Are Espadrilles?

one men's espadrille in blackEspadrilles are just casual, rope-soled shoes. If anything, you’re familiar with them because of the company Toms.

We see them often for women, but since their first documented use around the year 1322, men have worn them in warm climates for literal centuries. Much like lobster or coq au vin went from peasant food to fine(r) dining, espadrilles were once shoes for the poor that found their way onto feet belonging to the likes of Pablo Picasso and JFK.

Espadrilles hail from Spanish Basque country and Catalonia, which borders France. The word “espadrille” is, in fact, a direct cognate from the French espadrille (the Catalán is espardenya). The term comes from esparto, which is a grass found in the region that resembles rope.

Spain manufactures the majority of espadrilles in the world today, most often with jute soles.

How To Wear Espadrille Loafers

macca wearing espadrille shoesEspadrilles are a summer shoe, albeit an ultra-casual one. The guidelines that apply to other warm weather footwear apply to espadrilles as well: keep it casual, and don’t wear visible socks with them.

If we focus on Paul McCartney’s outfit on the left, we get a master class in timeless espadrille style. First and foremost, he’s not wearing socks (none that we can see, anyway). His trousers are light and casual, and he’s topping it off with a simple t-shirt and a slim watch. The colors are simple but thoughtfully coordinated, and his clothes’ fit flatters his frame perfectly – neither too tight nor too loose.

This photo was taken in the 1960’s. Save for the now-out-of-fashion cigarette in his hand, this could have been last week. The classics never die, and Paul’s is the vibe to shoot for.

Espadrilles & A Custom Wardrobe

a wall of espadrilles on a shelfWe design lots of different summer custom clothing in our Philadelphia shop. Espadrilles pair beautifully with the following:

Parting Thoughts

If you’re anything like us, you’ve grown tired of the cold. We’re here to talk about your summer wardrobe whenever you are – you’ll need something to pair with those espadrilles after all. Give us a call at 215-310-0219 or email info@henrydavidsen.com to get started.

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